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| Margate's £100,000 boost 'not tied' to Mary Portas show | Margate's £100,000 boost 'not tied' to Mary Portas show |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A high street rejuvenation project will go ahead in Margate whether or not traders take part in a Mary Portas reality TV show, an MP has promised. | A high street rejuvenation project will go ahead in Margate whether or not traders take part in a Mary Portas reality TV show, an MP has promised. |
| The Kent resort is among 12 towns chosen by Ms Portas to share £1.2m of government cash and her expertise. | The Kent resort is among 12 towns chosen by Ms Portas to share £1.2m of government cash and her expertise. |
| However, she told hundreds at a meeting on Tuesday: "You either let the cameras in with me or I go back on the train and some other town gets it." | However, she told hundreds at a meeting on Tuesday: "You either let the cameras in with me or I go back on the train and some other town gets it." |
| Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale said there was no question of money being withdrawn. | Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale said there was no question of money being withdrawn. |
| "It is entirely up to individual companies and tradespeople in the town whether or not they take part in the programme," the Conservative MP said. | "It is entirely up to individual companies and tradespeople in the town whether or not they take part in the programme," the Conservative MP said. |
| "The Margate Town Team Regeneration Project, backed with £100,000 of government money, will go ahead whatever." | "The Margate Town Team Regeneration Project, backed with £100,000 of government money, will go ahead whatever." |
| 'Warts and all' | 'Warts and all' |
| Margate is the first of three towns to be chosen by TV production company Optomen Television to feature in a Channel 4 programme, Mary Queen of the High Street, about the regeneration process. | Margate is the first of three towns to be chosen by TV production company Optomen Television to feature in a Channel 4 programme, Mary Queen of the High Street, about the regeneration process. |
| Ms Portas received applause as she addressed the meeting, but acknowledged some people saw the documentary as a "downside". | Ms Portas received applause as she addressed the meeting, but acknowledged some people saw the documentary as a "downside". |
| "If we put this on prime TV people will come," she said. "That is a decision you have got to make. | "If we put this on prime TV people will come," she said. "That is a decision you have got to make. |
| "It's going to be warts and all but at the end, from my heart, I want this to be wonderful and I want Margate to be wonderful." | "It's going to be warts and all but at the end, from my heart, I want this to be wonderful and I want Margate to be wonderful." |
| Robin Vaughn-Lyons, leader of the regeneration bid, said he was unaware anything had been done "to offend Mary". | Robin Vaughn-Lyons, leader of the regeneration bid, said he was unaware anything had been done "to offend Mary". |
| "It wasn't until after the event that someone pointed it out to me what she said," he said. | "It wasn't until after the event that someone pointed it out to me what she said," he said. |
| "It was bit of a shock of course but we have got an awful lot to do and we are just getting on with it." | "It was bit of a shock of course but we have got an awful lot to do and we are just getting on with it." |
| Contract 'redrawn' | Contract 'redrawn' |
| Sir Roger, a former TV producer, said contracts local people had been asked to sign with the production company were "restrictive". | Sir Roger, a former TV producer, said contracts local people had been asked to sign with the production company were "restrictive". |
| "I wouldn't have issued a contract like that and I understand Mary Portas herself has insisted that what she describes as the restrictive parts of the contract will be redrawn. | |
| "I want to see the project succeed and if there is a documentary that shows how and why it has been approached and succeeded that would be very good news for the town." | "I want to see the project succeed and if there is a documentary that shows how and why it has been approached and succeeded that would be very good news for the town." |
| Ms Portas tweeted that her remarks were "heat of moment stuff with camera stuck in face". | |
| Channel 4 said in a statement: "Optomen is in early talks with a number of local shopkeepers and town representatives. | |
| "Some businesses have been given standard TV agreements. As usual, these agreements will evolve once we have received everyone's initial feedback. | "Some businesses have been given standard TV agreements. As usual, these agreements will evolve once we have received everyone's initial feedback. |
| "Mary is passionate about her work to help reinvigorate the high street and the programme will be made in that spirit, so we're keen to work closely with everyone involved." | "Mary is passionate about her work to help reinvigorate the high street and the programme will be made in that spirit, so we're keen to work closely with everyone involved." |